Chapter: 95
A glint of realization flashed in Alicia's eyes.
This big-shot Gerry was hinting at, could it be...?
After ending the call, Gerry couldn't help but lick his lips and grin. “I'm genuinely curious, Caden. Why'd you suddenly decide to help Alicia this time?"
Caden paused, his eyes never leaving the screen. After a few quiet seconds, he replied loftily, “It's not helping. Think of it as a down payment."
Gerry's brow lifted in intrigue. “What do you mean by that?"
Caden didn't answer, his expression unreadable.
Just then, a light knock on the door interrupted their conversation.
The manager entered with a warm smile and announced, “Mr. Ward, Mr. Hopkins, your drinks have arrived."
Behind him, a few strikingly attractive women followed, each scantily clad.
They sauntered in and served the drinks, but they didn't leave right away. Instead, they gracefully slid into the seats beside Caden and Gerry.
Gerry, wasting no time, wrapped his arm around the waist of the girl beside him, pulling her close as she giggled, feeding him a sip of his drink. He leaned back in his chair, obviously enjoying the attention.
Caden, however, didn't so much as acknowledge the girl who sat beside him.
His gaze lingered on her for a moment- cold, distant, as if he were studying her rather than savoring the moment.
The girl, unaccustomed to such an aloof reception, flushed under his icy stare. "Mr. Ward," she said with a soft, hopeful tone, "is there anything you want to eat? I can feed you."
Caden's expression hardened, his eyes darkening with irritation. “No need," he said flatly, turning his head away as if her presence disgusted him. "And keep your distance."
The girl's smile faltered, clearly caught off guard by his sudden shift in mood.
But she wasn't ready to give up so easily. Patrons as wealthy as Caden didn't come along every day, and she wasn't about to let him slip away. "Mr. Ward, don't be so cruel," she coaxed, leaning closer despite his rejection. “Tell me what you enjoy-I can do anything to please you."
Caden's gaze flicked back to her, an unsettling edge in his voice.
“Anything?”
The girl's eyes lit up with eager anticipation, nodding quickly, certain that her persistence was paying off.
Moments later, the door creaked open again, and Alicia entered. The air in the private room shifted as she took in the scene before her.
The women were filing out, one of them particularly distraught, wiping at her eyes with trembling hands as she let out quiet sobs.
Alicia's curiosity was piqued, her eyes sweeping over the girl before settling on Gerry and Caden.
“Did you two bully her?" she asked, her lips curving into a subtle smile.
Gerry laughed, clearly entertained. “Not me! It was Caden-he's the one who bullied her and made her cry!"
Alicia's eyes naturally drifted to Caden.
He was dressed in his signature black shirt that clung to his sculpted torso, making even the most mundane color seem dangerously appealing.
His devilishly handsome face bore no emotion, but his very presence radiated an allure that was hard to resist.
Despite his cold demeanor, he had an inexplicable magnetism that drew people in.
Memories of the surveillance footage flashed through Alicia's mind~ those intimate moments where Caden's touch had seemed so practiced, so devastatingly skilled. A strange emotion stirred inside her as a thought crossed her mind.